Shaker or sifter-type dispensers



y 1966 w. E. FILLMORE ETAL 3,260,423

SHAKER 0R SIFTER-TYPE DISPENSERS Filed July 27, 1964 FIG l FIG. 2

INVENTORS WILLIAM Emu-MORE; YSPENCER L- BLAVLOCK JR.

K-VITORMEIVS United States Patent 3,260,423 SHAKER 0R SIFTER-TYIE DISPENSERS William E. Fillmore and Spencer L. Blaylock, Jr., Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Illinois, Inc., a corporation of Ohio Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,389 Claims. (Cl. 222-485) This invention relates generally to a shaker or siftertype assembly and more particularly to a shaker or sittertype dispenser which is readily attachable to and removable from containers and capable, not only of dispensing powder or pelletized products, but also functioning effectively as a closure cap for the container.

An object of our invention is the provision of a novel dispensing assembly comprising a container, a Sifter-type fitment, and a closure therefor.

A further object of our invention is the provision of novel means insuring ready, accurate orientation of the assembled elements after being affixed to the container, to the end that it may function effectively both as a dispensing unit and as a container sealing means.

Another object of our invention is to provide a dispensing assembly which is simply and readily brought into and out of operating or dispensing position.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a container mouth, sitter-type fitment and closure which cooperates to provide a simple and effective dispensing assembly.

These and other objects of our invention will become apparent from the reading of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of the shaker or sitter-type dispensing assembly of our inventron;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, in crosssection, illustrating the assembly of the elements of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a shaker or sitter-type dispenser, partially in section embodying our invention and illustrated in the dispensing position;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of the dispenser of FIGURE 3 in closed position; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a container illustrating a modification of the container of FIGURE 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of our invention, reference numeral denotes a bottle or jar formed preferably from high density polyethylene,'by conventional means well known to those skilled in the art. The bottle 10 is provided with a cylindrical wall 11 defining a neck, having a circular rim 12 extending about and defining a mouth 13. Exteriorly of this wall 11, and in close proximity to the rim 12, are a plurality of lugs 14 which are substantially in alignment with the axis of mouth 13. Lugs 14 are narrow, vertical and radial projections from the plane of wall 11. In FIGURE 1, only three lugs 14 are visible, there being another lug 14 180 around the wall 11 from the lug shown in full view. It should be understood that additional lugs 14 may be provided on the wall 11, as for example, six lugs could be equally spaced on the exterior of wall 11.

In close proximity to and below lugs 14, and preferably immediately adjacent thereto, is an abutment or annular radial projection 15 which is formed by increasing the outside diameter of wall 11 in a localized annular zone and in such fashion as to provide upwardly of this abutment, an upwardly, inwardly tapering guiding surface 16 and beneath said abutment, a downwardly, inwardly, tapering securing surface 17; the function of this abutment will become more apparent hereinafter.

On the interior of wall 11 and immediately below the rim 12 are a plurality of equally spaced, triangular shaped projections 18. The projections 18 are radial projections from the plane of the interior of the wall 11 and are in substantial alignment with the axis of the mouth 13. Preferably the projections 18 are constructed and arranged as substantially equilateral triangles as in FIG- URE 1. However, substantially right angular shaped projections 18' may be utilized as are shown in FIGURE 5. One side of each of the triangular projections is parallel to the rim 12 of the container 10 and forms the base for the other two sides 20 of the projection 18 which meet at apex 19. In FIGURE 1 the two sides 20 form substantially equal acute angles, with the base side of each projection and extend from the base side toward the rim 12.

In FIGURE 5, one side 21 forms a right angle with the base side and the third side 22 forms acute angles with the base side and side 21. Both sides 21 and 22 extend from the base side toward the rim 12. The sides 20, 21 and 22 of the projections 18 may be straight or they may be curved slightly.

A vertical notch 23 is provided at the juncture of the lower ends of sides 20 of adjacent projections 18 or as in FIGURE 5, at the juncture of side 21 with the side' 22 of an adjacent projection. The number of notches 23 are thus equal to the number of projections 18 or 18'. Each notch 23 is axially aligned with the axis of the container mouth 13 and is positioned remote from the rim 12 and in the vicinity of the base of each projection.

The sifter fitment or dispenser element 24 may be formed of rubber or other resilient, elastomeric, or plastic material, but preferably it is formed of polyethylene. It is molded in a single piece and comprises a relatively fiat disk 25 of a diameter substantially as great as the exterior diameter of the rim 12 and preferably of a diameter slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the rim 12, in order that when assembled, this disk may, to some extent, rest upon the rim 12. The disk 25 is provided with a multiplicity of perforations 26 extending therethrough, such perforations being of a diameter dictated by the particular grain size of the condiment or other material to be dispensed.

A depending, attaching annular skirt 27 of minor axial length is provided near the outer periphery of disk 25 and has an exterior diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the wall 11 of the container 10 and is thus adapted to be telescoped within the mouth 13. If desired, a second skirt 28 may be provided at the outer periphery of disk 25 and of a slightly greater diameter than the exterior diameter of the wall 11 of the container 10 and thus be adapted to be telescoped over the rim 12 and wall 11.

A plurality of equally spaced splines 30 are provided on the exterior of the skirt 27 and extend downwardly and axially from the flat disk 25. Each spline 30 is a narrow, vertical and radial projection from the plane of the exterior of the skirt 27 and are in substantial alignment with the axis of the skirt 27.

The notches 23 are constructed and arranged to remouth 13. There are at least as many notches 23 as there are splines 30. There may be more notches than splines but the reverse is not acceptable. The walls 20 of the projections 18 serve as guiding surfaces for the splines 30 when the fitment is applied to the container 10. If the fitment did not exactly align with each of the notches 23, then downward pressure on the fitment, applied during the customary and conventional capping operation will cause the fitment to rotate slightly thereby aligning the notches 23 with the lower end 31 of each of the splines 30 and thereby preventing further rotation of the fitment with respect to the mouth 13 f the con tainer 10.

The splines 30 are arranged on the skirt 27 in radial alignment with the perforations 26. There may be more or less perforations 26 than splines 30. In the event that the perforations outnumber the splines, there will be a perforation in radial alignment with a spline. If the splines outnumber the perforations, there will be a spline in radial alignment with each perforation. With the splines in alignment with the perforations the perforations 26 are therefore in radial alignment with the notches 23 when the fitment is applied to the container 10, and consequently in radial alignment with projections 14 because there is a notch in radial alignment with each projection, thereby positively positioning the perforations 26.

The closure cap 32 may be formed of rubber or resilient elastomeric or plastic material but preferably it is formed of polyethylene. It is molded in a single piece and comprises a relatively flat circular top panel portion 33 of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the flat disk 25 of the fitment 24 so that when assembled the closure 32 will cover the fitment 24. The top panel portions 33 is provided with a multiplicity of perforations 34 which are equal in number to and alignable with the perforations 26 in the fitment 24. The diameter of these perforations 34 is also dictated by the particular grain size of the condiment or other product to be dispensed.

An annular depending attaching skirt 35 is formed at the outer periphery of the circular top panel portion 33 and is adapted to be telescop'ed over the fitment 24 and the container mouth 13. The lower or free end 36 of the skirt 35 is provided with an annular internally projecting rib 37 having a downwardly and inwardly tapered surface 38. The rib 37 is adapted to be forced over abutment 15 when the closure cap 32 and fitment 24 are placed over the container mouth 13. This enables closure 32 to be held in snap fit relationship with the container and it is held there by having the downward tapered surface 38 resting against the underside of abutment or the downwardly and inwardly tapered surface 17 of the container 10.

The interior of skirt of cap 32 is provided with a plurality of internally projecting lugs 40. The lugs 40 are narrow projections which are substantially aligned with the axis of the closure 32. They are positioned on the skirt 35 in relation to the perforations 34 in such fashion that rotation of the closure 32 on the container 10 will move the lugs 40 around the exterior of the wall 11 of the container 10 until they come into contact with an outwardly projecting member 14. At this point, the positioning of perforations 26 and 34, projections 14 and lugs 40, splines 30 and notches 23 brings the perforations 26 and 34 into alignment and dispensing positlon.

The lugs 40 are so positioned in relation to perforations 34 that the alignment of the perforations 26 and 34 is possible only by rotation of the closure 32 in one direction; thus the rotation of the closure in the opposite direction moves the perforations 26 and 34 out of alignment and thereby closes the container. Ths lugs 40 also serve to retain the fitment 24 interiorly of the closure cap 32 in order that the dispenser may be pre-assembled and hoppered without the necessity of pre-positioning the apertures as is required by some prior art fitments. The outer skirt 28 is of greater diameter than the inner diameter of the lugs 40. Also, the lugs 40 are positioned below the panel 33 a distance greater than the length of the skirt 28, thereby providing space between the lugs 40 and the panel 33 for the fitment skirt 28.

It can readily be seen from the foregoing that this dispensing assembly may be readily assembled by placing fitment 24 into closure 32 and rotating the same on the container rim 12 until the splines 30 register with the walls 20 of the projections 18 of the container whereby continued rotation and downward pressure will cause the fitment to rotate downwardly thereby positioning the lower end 31 of the splines 30 in the notches 23; continued downward pressure on the closure cap 32 will cause rib 37 to ride over projection 15 and lock into place. After the splines 30 are engaged in the notches 23, the fitment cannot be rotated and is thus in a stationary position relative to the container 10 and the closure 32. It is also possible to assemble this package by first placing the fitment on the container and thereafter placing the closure 32 over the same. After the fitment 24 is in place, the closure 32 is forced downwardly over the wall 11 of the container 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, the perforations 26' and 34' are positioned on the vertical and the remaining perforations are positioned at 45 increments around a circle. Since the splines 30, notches 23, and holes 26 are aligned, they will also be positioned at the abovedescribed angles but around a somewhat larger circle.

The lugs 40 utilized to align the perforations 26 and 34 must therefore be positioned so that their centers are on the radii which are separated from the radii on which the center of any perforation 34 is located by an angle of about 15 It will be apparent from the foregoing that this dispensing assembly can be easily manufactured and assembled to the container thereby providing a secure closed position against accidental opening, but easily opened to its dispensing position. Various modifications will be apparent from the foregoing and may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. In combination a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a mouth, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs for securing a closure cap to said container, a plurality of projections on the interior of said wall and aligned with the axis of said container, and a plurality of notches on the interior of said wall, a notch being positioned between adjacent projections; a sifter-type fitment comprising a relatively flat disk provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, a depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, said skirt having a plurality of vertical splines on the exterior thereof, said notches being adapted to receive said splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative movement of said cap.

2. In combination, a container having an annular neck forming wall defining a mouth, said wall having a outer end providing an annular rim, a plurality of radially projecting lugs on said wall below said rim, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs, a plurality of equally spaced triangular projections on the interior of said wall immediately below said rim with the apex of said projections near the rim, and a plurality of notches on the interior of said wall, a notch being positioned between adjacent projections; a sifter-type fitment of resilient material comprising a relatively fiat disk of at least as great a diameter as said container rim and provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, a depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, said skirt having a plurality of vertical splines on the exterior thereof which are adapted to be received by said notches, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment; and a closure cap adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth comprising a circular panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment, said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations alignable with the perforations in said fitment, a depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib on the free end of said skirt cooperable with the projection on said container wall to secure said cap to said container, and means on the interior of said skirt cooperable with said radially projecting lugs on the wall of the container to limit rotative movement of said cap.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said projections are constructed and arranged as substantially equilateral triangles.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said projections are constructed and arranged as right triangles.

5. A dispensing package comprising a container having an annular Wall defining a mouth, an annular rim provided at the outer end of said wall, at least four radially projecting lugs on the exterior of said wall below said rim, an annular radial projection on said wall below said lugs, said projection being of greater diameter than said rim and a plurality of vertically disposed, equally spaced, triangular projections extending radially of the interior of said wall and a plurality of vertically disposed notches on said wall equal in number to said projections, a notch being positioned between adjacent projections; a sitter-type fitment of resilient plastic material comprising a relatively fiat disk of a diameter at least as great as the diameter of said rim, and provided with a multiplicity of perforations therethrough, an annular depending attaching skirt near the periphery of said disk, the external diameter of said skirt being less than the internal diameter of said mouth, a plurality of vertically disposed, equally spaced, narrow splines on the exterior surface of said skirt, said notches being constructed and arranged to receive the lower end of said splines, thereby preventing rotation of said fitment with respect to said container; and a closure cap of resilient plastic material adapted to overlie said fitment and container mouth, comprising a relatively flat circular top panel portion of greater diameter than said fitment; said panel portion being provided with a plurality of perforations equal in number to and alignable with said perforations in said fitment, an annular depending attaching skirt at the periphery of said panel portion, an annular internally projecting rib near the free end of said skirt, cooperable with the projection on said container wall and adapted to secure said cap to said container, and a plurality of internally projecting lugs on the interior of said skirt, said lugs adapted to be positioned between adjacent lugs on said wall to limit rotative movement of said cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,194,455 7/1965 Castelli 222545 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION A CONTAINER HAVING AN ANNULAR NECK FORMING WALL DEFINING A MOUTH, A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY PROJECTING LUGS ON SAID WALL, AN ANNULAR RADIAL PROJECTION ON SAID WALL BELOW SAID LUGS FOR SECURING A CLOSURE CAP TO SAID CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF PROJECTIONS ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID WALL AND ALIGNED WITH THE AXIS OF SAID CONTAINER, AND A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID WALL, A NOTCH BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN ADJACENT PROJECTIONS; A SIFTER-TYPE FITMENT COMPRISING A RELATIVELY FLAT DISK PROVIDED WIH A MULTIPLICITY OF PERFORATIONS THERETHROUGH, A DEPENDING ATTACHING SKIRT NEAR THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK, SAID SKIRT HAVING A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL SPLINES ON THE EXTERIOR THEREOF, SAID NOTCHES BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID SPLINES, THEREBY PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID FITMENT; AND A CLOSURE CAP ADAPTED TO OVERLIE SAID FITMENT AND CONTAINER MONTH COMPRISING A CIRCULAR PANEL PORTION OF GREATER DIAMETER THAN SAID FITMENT, SAID PANEL PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF PERFORATIONS ALIGNABLE WITH THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID FITMENT, A DEPENDING ATTACHING SKIRT AT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PANEL PORTION, AN ANNULAR INTERNALLY PROJECTING RIB ON THE FREE END OF SAID SKIRT COOPERABLE WITH THE PROJECTION ON SAID CONTAINER WALL TO SECURE SAID CAP TO SAID CONTAINER, AND MEANS ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID SKIRT COOPERABLE WITH SAID RADIALLY PROJECTING LUGS ON THE WALL OF THE CONTAINER TO LIMIT ROTATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID CAP. 